Goodreads
Amazon
Kindle Edition, 313 pages
Published May 31st 2014 by Red Adept Publishing, LLC
Source: From Red Adept Publishing, for review
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
From Goodreads:
Parted by death. Tethered by love. Lainey Bloom’s high school senior year is a complete disaster. The popular clique, led by mean girl Wynter Woods, bullies her constantly. The principal threatens not to let her graduate with the class of 1997 unless she completes a major research project. And everyone blames her for the death of Wynter’s boyfriend, Danny Obregon. Danny, a gorgeous musician, stole Lainey’s heart when he stole a kiss at a concert. But a week later, he was run down on a dangerous stretch of road. When he dies in her arms, she fears she’ll never know if he really would have broken up with Wynter to be with her. Then his ghost shows up, begging her to solve his murder. Horrified by the dismal fate that awaits him if he never crosses over, Lainey seeks the dark truth amidst small town secrets, family strife, and divided loyalties. But every step she takes toward discovering what really happened the night Danny died pulls her further away from the beautiful boy she can never touch again.
Anyway. I am about to age myself right here, but I loved that this book was set in the 90s. More of that in books, please! Truth be told, I was even more excited when I realized that I was actually about four years younger than Lainey and friends. But the music, the fashions, the lack of technology all brought back memories for me. The best part about it all was though, you don’t have to be a teen of the 90s to appreciate any of it. It wasn’t an overwhelming dropping of cultural references that a teen or young adult now wouldn’t understand, it just gave a very vivid picture of the world Lainey was living in at the time of the story.
The main thing that was incredible about this book was that it had a bit of everything: Romance, mystery, suspense, lots of feels, and great character development. I felt so connected to Lainey that it was easy to immerse myself into her life. I have absolutely nothing in common with this character, but it didn’t matter, which to me is a mark of truly amazing character development and writing. I couldn’t help but feel my heart break when Lainey’s did, feel scared when she was scared, and infuriated when someone was treating her poorly. The supporting characters were no less fleshed out, I found myself cheering for the characters who stuck by Lainey’s side, and wanting to assault the “mean girls” who were causing her trouble. I adored Nutley, and loved the way Lainey’s relationship with Liz progressed during the course of the book. The main villain of the book was just a bit unbelievable for my taste (which is the only thing really keeping this from a complete five stars), but he really is an awful guy. There are parts that are (sadly) utterly believable, but his main motivation baffled me a bit.
The added mystery and ghost elements kept me scrolling through my Kindle way too long into the night. I wanted to know what was happening and why, and of course, hoping for peace for Danny. There were a lot of interesting twists, even minor ones, that I didn’t see coming and was definitely surprised about.
Overall, this is just a really fantastic book that I would recommend to anyone. I think this is the kind of book that will appeal to audiences of a wide age range. Nostalgia may reel some readers in, but the characters, story, and writing will make them stay.
Also, can we have another book with these characters? Pretty please? Thanks.
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| Don’t laugh too hard, it’s all I could find! |
Yay! I’m so glad you loved it! And yes we need another book, I need more Nutley like right now.
In 1996? I was being born! Becoming the apple of my parents eyes, fulfilling the empty void of my then best friendless brother(I filled that void by becoming his best buddy) and…probably crying a lot… And yet like you said I still connected with these characters and this story even though all I know of the 90s is the music. 😉
Great review!
YES. ALL the Nutley! Awww being born! So sweet 🙂 I kind of love that you and your brother are best buddies! In 1996 my brother and I were 100% hating each other, no question. He was about 10. Blech!
I was reading through the comments here(because I’m stalking this book) and I feel like the odd man(girl) out in the sibling department because I have two older brothers(one 1 year older, the other 7years older) and I have never not been friends with them. I don’t know how it happened but I defintly feel lucky to not hate them(most the time). =)
Also novella? Mission complete!
Omg what was I up to in 1996?? I was 2. So probably stealing my brother’s trains and eating them and screaming at my brother and sisters because (apparently, I have a slight memory block for the early toddler years) refusing to be held by anyone but my mother. Trust issues from an early age. (But who trusts older siblings?! I mean REALLY.)
*ahem* ANYWAY! I love the sound of this book!! And that’s awesome that you really connected to the characters, that’s what I particularly like when reading a book. Just being absolutely sucked in by the characters and…and…not wanting to let them go and finish the story. It’s an epic feeling. 😉
I agree! Especially when I didn’t expect to connect to them so much, it was such a fun surprise!
HA, I am hoping that this toddler-sibling anger thing can actually just be a phase! I was evil to my brother, and we aren’t close, and my daughter is evil to my son… but maybe it’ll pass? Do you still steal his trains?
YOU ARE ADORABLE. Also: in 1996, I was 6 . . . so, uhm, way to make me feel like a baby haha.
I loved that this book is set in the 90s!!!! I kind of want to read it just because of that, so I can be all ‘I WAS BORN IN THAT DECADE, YAY ME’. I’m mature like that.
This really intrigues me actually, because I ADORE ghost stories, and this has romance and a murder mystery too! It’s the trifecta!
Well, there are commenters who were just being birthed lol, so that should help a little! It’s totally making me feel like the elderly 😉 The 90s are fun in general. Even though I am like, on the border of “coming of age” in both the 90s and the 2000s, the 90s were so much more carefree!
It really is a trifecta! There is a lot going on in the book, but not in an overwhelming way, just in a “wow, this has something for everyone!” way.
Thanks for the review!!! I’m so glad you loved it. After the response, I am seriously considering writing a novella featuring the Lady in Blue’s story. If you think that’s something you’d like, I’ll do it.
I would LOVE to read about Lady in Blue’s story! She was such an intriguing part of the story (and I did NOT see the twist about her coming either!)
Oh, in 1996, I was a senior in high school! Lainey and I are the same age. I was very unpopular. I watched a ton of MTV and X-Files and I listened to all the bands Lainey loves. I saw Lilith Fair in 97 and Tori Amos in 97. Long live the 90s!!
Ah, I finally don’t feel like the elder statesman 😉 I was in 8th grade, then 9th in 1996. I started a new school (for swimming, hence the picture!), a Catholic school (which was super weird, not being Catholic). I was so awkward and nervous! But, I was too uncool to know anything about good music either!
I love this book too, what a GREAT review!
Thanks 🙂
I’m Kimberly’s age. Nice to meet all you young ‘uns! 🙂
I totally agree that being able to relate to a character who you (seem to) have nothing in common with is a sign of a great work of fiction. (Ever read education theorist Rudine Sims Bishop’s article about literature as mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors? http://www.rif.org/us/literacy-resources/multicultural/mirrors-windows-and-sliding-glass-doors.htm)
And I *love* the idea of occasionally reading outside one’s regular genre haunts!
Yay, someone else to make me feel non-ancient 😉 The funny thing is, after reading this book, I am now totally open to reading more ghost books! All it takes is one awesome experience 🙂
And I think you are completely right- I had FAR more in common with Lainey than I’d anticipated! Off to check out this article, thanks so much for sharing it!
haha! Cute photo! I was in sixth grade in 1996! I like ghosts, but I don’t usually like books about them. I was planning on passing on this book because of the high school / mean girls stuff, but now I might give it a shot. Nice review. 🙂
Oh, you are close to my age then! I think I was 13 in this picture. I am usually not into ghost books either… or, I thought I wasn’t, but this was so good! And the mean girls thing is hard, because you feel for Lainey, but it is pretty interesting how things unfold! Definitely worth a read if you are looking for something different!
Brilliant review. This one really interests me too, I love that it’s set in the 90’s. In 1996, I would have been 5 and I’d probably be sitting at home, watching The Lion King for the 100th time. My mum loved Nirvana, so we used to listen to them a lot.
Oh, my brother LOVED The Lion King! I felt rather indifferent 😉 I was like, just on the cusp of being too old for it I think. (Confession: I was never a huge fan of Disney movies in general!) I hope there are more 90s books on the horizon, too!
In ’96 I was 4, so I guess playing with children on a playground or something, haha.
I’m not a big fan of mystery/suspense novels. I never really like them much, so I tend to avoid those, but this one sounds pretty interesting. I love that it’s set in ’90s, but I don’t know, the ghosts put me off a little bit. We’ll see, but great review Shannon!
I am definitely not into ghosts and mysteries as a rule either, but this book just did it for me! Hahah i love “on a playground or something”. I wouldn’t know what I did at 4 either really 🙂